Australian GT3 Practice Times
The top three contenders for the 2007 Australian GT Championship were on top of the time sheets for the first practice session at Melbourne’s Sandown Park circuit today (Friday December 7).
Topping the times was the Allan Simonsen/Tim Leahey Ferrari 430 with a fastest lap of 1:12.3157 followed by the Lamborghini Gallardo of Bryce Washington/Michael Trimble on 1:12.7378 and the father and son combination of the Des and David Wall in a Porsche GT3 RSR with a time of 1:13.5906.
Fourth quickest was the Porsche GT3 RSR of Simon Middleton and Peter Hill with a time of 1:13.9709.
Other fancied combinations (although not fighting for the overall championship) include the Ian Palmer/Paul Stokell Lamborghini Gallardo that was fifth fastest in practice with a time of 1:13.9829 followed by John Teulan/Steve Johnson Ferrari 430 1:14.4244, and Craig Baird/Ted Huglin in the Ferrari 360GT with a time of 1:14.6095.
The glamour Aston Martin DBRS9 of Jon Kaias/Will Davison did not appear for the first practice session with the team still tracing an electrical issue that plagued the car during yesterday’s sponsor and media rides.
Practice Session #2
The second session saw Simonsen/Leahey again on top with a time of 1:13.1039 in the Ferrari 430, but this time it was the Wall/Wall (Porsche GT3 RSR) combination that was second fastest who stopped the clocks at 1:13.1807 followed by the Lamborghini Gallardo of Bryce Washington/Michael Trimble with a time of 1:13.4814.
V8 Supercar driver Steve Johnson was 4th fastest in the Ferrari 430 he is co-driving with John Teulan (1:13.6052) followed by Craig Baird in the Ted Huglin Ferrari 360GT with a time of 1:13.8823.
The fierce competition can be evidenced by the fact that top five cars in the second session were separated by a mere seven tenths of a second.
The Kaias/Davison Aston Martin again failed to make the track for the practice session 2 with the problem believed to be an ECU issue. Co- driver Will Davison said the team was attempting to source a replacement.
Tomorrow’s (Saturday December 
GT Championship activity at the Sandown GT Classic commences with the third practice session at 9.40am (EST) followed by two qualifying sessions scheduled for 12.30pm (EST) and 3.30pm (EST).
The three and a half hour Sandown GT Classic will commence on Sunday December 9 at 12.30pm (EST) following a ten minute warm up at 9.30am.
The Sandown GT Classic that is being promoted by the Event Entertainment Group will also feature the final round of the Commodore Cup Series, the Australian Saloon Car Championship, the Australian Production Car Championship and Round 5 of the Kerrick Sports Sedan Series.
AUSTRALIAN GT CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS
Points table after 7 of 8 rounds
2007 AUSTRALAN GT CHAMPIONSHIP
Washington 662 adjusted 595
Simonsen 662 adjusted 578
Wall 565 adjusted 509
PORSCHE DRIVERS CHALLENGE
Flack 577 adjusted 517
Burchartz 503 adjusted 489
Tresidder 435.5 adjusted 401
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